The employment numbers for the fourth quarter of 2019 show that employment has continued to slowly increase throughout the state and the unemployment rate remained relatively flat for the quarter.
In October, employment was up 0.4 percent, approximately 1,400 jobs from last October. Oil & Gas saw the largest increase with a gain of 500 jobs. Construction had another good month with an additional 400 jobs. Leisure & Hospitality, Professional & Business Services, and Health Care all added 300 jobs over October 2018. State government jobs dropped by 500 jobs, due mostly to cuts at the University of Alaska.
Alaska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 in October, which was the same from September.
November’s employment growth added only 1,100 jobs from November 2018, which is an increase of 0.3 percent. Oil & Gas continued its growth with an additional 400 jobs, while Leisure & Hospitality and Health Care increased by 300 jobs. Retail was the biggest loser in the private sector, seeing 200 jobs lost in November. State Government had another large loss with 600 jobs, again, due to the budget cuts at the University of Alaska. Federal employment increased due to the hiring of temporary workers for the 2020 Census.
In November, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped slightly to 6.1 percent, while the national rate was 3.5 percent.
December had the largest increase of jobs of the quarter with an increase of 1,900 jobs, or 0.6 percent. Leisure & Hospitalty had the largest gain with an increase of 600 jobs. Oil & Gas and Professional & Business Services each had an increase with an additional 400 jobs. State Government continued to lose jobs and lost 400 jobs from December 2018.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6.1 percent, and the national average remained at 3.5 percent.
Up-to-date employment numbers can be found at the State of Alaska’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website.
